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The start of the regular season is the latest victim of the NHL lockout.

The league on Thursday cancelled 82 games, from Oct. 11 to Oct. 24, because of an inability to get a collective bargaining agreement in place with the players.

Deputy commissioner Bill Daly told QMI Agency cancelling the start of the regular season was a difficult decision.

"It's a whole different animal (than the pre-season) and it's significantly disappointing," Daly said. "But, as the calendar continues to turn, you're left with little choice but making those tough decisions."

NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr was quick to fire back.

"The decision to cancel the first two weeks of the season is the unilateral choice of the owners," Fehr said in a statement. "If the owners truly cared about the game and the fans, they would lift the lockout and allow the season to begin on time while negotiations continue.

"A lockout should be the last resort in bargaining, not the strategy of first resort. For nearly 20 years, the owners have elected to lock out the players in an effort to secure massive concessions. The players remain committed to playing while the parties work to reach a deal that is fair for both sides. We hope we will soon have a willing negotiating partner."

Daly warned that the deadline to ensure the Winter Classic takes place Jan. 1 between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs at The Big House at the University of Michigan is fast approaching.

"We've talked about that internally," Daly said. "I don't think it has to be by a specific day but obviously there's a time period by which, as a practical matter, it has to happen. We haven't reached that time period yet, but it's probably sooner than most people expect."

Daly wouldn't elaborate on a drop-dead date to save the season because he's still confident a new deal can be put in place.

"We're too early in the process for that. What I'd say is we're still focused on the dynamics of the negotiation. We still think that it can be concluded successfully. Obviously as we're talking about cancelling regular-season games, the definition of 'successfully' is skewed to a certain extent.

"I still think that while our gap is significant, dollars and cents-wise, it isn't all that significant conceptually. I'm still optimistic it can be bridged at some point."